In Reply to: 2001 -- A space Odyssey returns to DC posted by Bruce from DC on November 2, 2001 at 07:14:22:
... 2001 doesn't seem to hold up that well from my perspective. The problem I have viewing it now stems from "Space Odyssey" being trimmed down for widescreen or further compromised for DVD/TV viewing. IMHO, 2001's biggest flaw was that Kubrick filmed a bigger than life epic even though he didn't have an epic story to work with. So seeing this film reduced to mere WS dilutes it's one great strength: the "you are there" experience which only today's IMAX and 3D-IMAX achieve.I saw 2001 in a Cinerama theater in Oklahoma Ciry back in '69. Generally speaking, it was impressive on several levels, not the least of which included the choice of classical music and Kubrick's brilliant transition scenes denoting vast changes in time and location. I was already in awe of the added depth produced when movies filmed in the Cinerama camera process were projected on 3 separate tightly synchronized screens (i.e., this was only my second such film, the first being "How the West was Won"), and the effects in 2001 A Space Odyssey were mind-blowing even for someone like myself who wasn't on mind altering chemicals at the time. :o)
However, in retrospect, considering the more sophisticated effects available to today's film-makers and the ambitious plots which occasionally make their way to the screen, 2001 seems painfully pedestrian, especially when shown utilizing a lesser widescreen format. Furthermore, there's a sleep-inducing infatuation with docking ships and slowly examining miniscule details of construction and everyday life in space that annoyingly slows the pacing in much the same way that "Star Trek - The Motionless Picture" would bore audiences a decade later.
That said, there is still a certain charm and grandeur to 2001 and the acting is effective in spite of the fact that most of the tension is generated by a space-suited Keir Dullea and the voice of a computer named Hal. Perhaps if I had been "chemically prepared" for the trippy kaleidoscope effects which transitioned from the Jupiter mission segment to the arrival, death and rebirth sequence both the transition and the movie would have been more compelling in hindsight. Alas, Space Odyssey, even with all it's grandeur, seemed somehow unresolved; more experience than story. In the final analysis, as a movie 2001 is noteworthy, groundbreaking and on some levels a classic, but as a Kubrick film it's just an okay entry IMO, easily surpassed by his next directoral effort which is also an SF genre film and a genuine masterpiece, "A Clockwork Orange."
AuPh
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Follow Ups
- It was great in Cinerama, but ... - Audiophilander 14:16:08 11/02/01 (35)
- "Star Trek-The Motionless Picture" - padreken 15:40:27 11/05/01 (0)
- Yeah- and Citizen Kane should have been in color. - john dem 14:29:31 11/03/01 (32)
- Nice sarcasm, even if woefully misguided. - Audiophilander 01:32:06 11/05/01 (28)
- You think that was sarcastic. - john dem 05:19:34 11/05/01 (27)
- Re: You think that was sarcastic..........uuurrr - demonica 22:29:03 11/06/01 (3)
- Dear Monica, please stay in the Sar Wars thread where Lucas needs your support. - john dem 01:32:01 11/07/01 (2)
- Re: Dear Monica, please stay in the S(T)ar Wars thread where Lucas needs your support. - demonica 00:07:30 11/08/01 (1)
- Thanks for correcting the typo, it should have been HIDDEN FORTRESS - john dem 01:13:07 11/08/01 (0)
- Yes, but I was being polite, ... - Audiophilander 13:00:06 11/05/01 (19)
- Re: Yes, but I was being polite, ... - demonica 22:37:12 11/06/01 (0)
- You are always polite, - john dem 13:56:59 11/05/01 (17)
- ... and you continue trying to insult my intelligence and that of other's here. - Audiophilander 16:07:09 11/05/01 (16)
- No...I pretty much insulted you directly. - john dem 16:59:12 11/05/01 (15)
- ... with all the sophistication of Vicomte de Valvert from the well known Rostrand play. - Audiophilander 02:03:24 11/06/01 (13)
- Re: Dunno about that, 'Phlounder - Bruce from DC 07:08:25 11/06/01 (4)
- I stand by what I said about Star Trek - The 'Motionless' Picture in it's original form, ... - Audiophilander 09:15:07 11/06/01 (3)
- DVD? I don't have no stinkin' DVD. - Bruce from DC 13:19:32 11/06/01 (2)
- Letterboxing alone is worth the purchase - padreken 15:12:55 11/06/01 (0)
- Wha-? TAPE & NO DVD! [8^o] Why, you, you... infidel, you! Ye has risen from the dark abyss Outside! - Audiophilander 14:08:00 11/06/01 (0)
- If he wasn't so pedestrian, Wise would be the Checkered Cab of directors... - john dem 07:07:39 11/06/01 (1)
- Ah, but if only your Eyes weren't Wide Shut. (nt) - Audiophilander 09:20:28 11/06/01 (0)
- Not so impressive to me - orejones 05:54:48 11/06/01 (5)
- Re: Not so impressive to me - demonica 00:39:56 11/08/01 (0)
- Robert Wise supposedly was forced to re-edit and re-shoot scenes for ... - Audiophilander 10:24:51 11/06/01 (1)
- You´re right: it was Carol Reed, not Karel Reisz. My mistake - orejones 03:18:33 11/07/01 (0)
- A minor point- - john dem 06:53:10 11/06/01 (1)
- Re: A minor point - orejones 09:09:27 11/06/01 (0)
- this reminds me of an old saw about alligators and draining swamps - late 18:20:48 11/05/01 (0)
- Solaris/ST/42 - late 08:38:16 11/05/01 (2)
- Re: Solaris/ST/42 - john dem 11:51:33 11/05/01 (1)
- Re: Are you a Silent Running fan? - JDK 18:57:19 11/05/01 (0)
- Yeah, and Willis O'Brien should've used CGI in '33 for King Kong instead of lame stop motion (nt) - Rob Doorack 15:08:25 11/04/01 (0)
- Re: Yeah- and Citizen Kane should have been in color. - Rich H 07:26:55 11/04/01 (1)
- Re: Yeah- and Citizen Kane should have been in color. - Rich H 07:27:54 11/04/01 (0)
- Re: It was great in Cinerama, but ... - Bruce from DC 16:04:44 11/02/01 (0)